User activity monitoring device

Abstract

A user activity monitoring device, the device comprising: an alert module (1), including an actigraphy circuit (4); a processing unit (5), connected to the actigraphy circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal so as to detect user activity as corresponding to an alert situation, according to processing parameters; a support (10), for holding the alert module; the device being characterized in that the device comprises a coding circuit (13, 13'), configured to generate an identification code (Sid) according to the support; the processing unit is configured to: receive the identification code (Sid); select the processing parameters according to the identification code; such that the processing parameters depend on the support on which the alert module is held. Figure 3A.

Description

Description of the invention: Device for monitoring the activity of a user reader Technical field The technical field of the invention is the monitoring of a user's activity, with a view to detecting an alert situation. PREVIOUS ART Mobile devices for detecting distress situations, such as accidents, assaults, or illnesses, are currently available in various forms. Their function is to signal, manually or automatically, the occurrence of such a situation. Such devices are configured to emit an alert signal when their user finds himself in a critical situation. The alert signal is intended to be transmitted to a telecommunications network in order to alert assistance services. An alert module is for example described in French patent FR3044455. Such an alert module can be configured to emit an alert signal when an alert button is pressed by a user. The alert module can include an actimetry circuit, intended to measure the user's movements. According to one possibility, the alert module is programmed to automatically emit an alert signal based on signals, coming from the actimetry module, and considered as representative of an alert situation. Patent application EP17186040 describes the integration of an alert module into a shoe, in particular a safety shoe intended for a user likely to experience a risky situation. The risky situation may be a risk of falling or isolation. When the alert module detects such a situation, an alert is emitted by a transmitting antenna to a long-range wireless communication network, such as GSM or other. The same alert module may be intended to be worn by a person, while being held on a support. In patent application EP17186040, the support is a sole of a shoe. In FR3044455, a support for the alert module at the level of a tongue, or a belt, in a safety vest was described. The inventors found that the detection of a user alert situation could depend on the module support. They propose an alert situation detection device with improved performance, by limiting the occurrence of false alerts and avoiding the non-detection of a real alert. Statement of the invention A first object of the invention is a device for monitoring the activity of a user, the device comprising: an alert module, including an actimetry circuit, the actimetry circuit being configured to generate a posture-dependent activity signal and / or a user movement; a processing unit, connected to the actimetry circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal to detect user activity as corresponding to an alert situation, the processing being carried out in processing parameter function; a support, intended to be worn by the user, the support being configured to maintain the alert module; the device being characterized in that the device comprises a coding circuit configured to generate a code identification depending on the support; the processing unit is configured to: receive the identification code: select processing parameters based on the code identification; so that the processing parameters depend on the medium on which the alert module is maintained. The identification code is preferably a numeric code, i.e. a character or a string of characters. The coding circuit may be disposed on the support, the coding circuit being configured to be connected to the alert module. According to one possibility: the alert module includes a connection circuit; the coding circuit is configured to be connected to the link circuit, by a wired connection, so that the connection of the connecting circuit with the circuit coding allows the generation of the identification code. The connection circuit (3) of the alert module is a microcontroller, configured to transmit the coding signal to the processing unit. The connection circuit of the alert module can be integrated into the processing unit. According to one possibility, the support and the alert module are configured to be connected to each other the other by a short-range wireless link; the support includes an emitter of an electromagnetic wave (for example RFID — Radio Frequency Identification — Radiofrequency identification or Bluetooth), comprising a support identifier, the transmitter forming the circuit coding; the alert module is configured to receive the emitted electromagnetic wave by the transmitter, the received electromagnetic wave comprising the signal of coding. The alert module may be configured to be connected, by wireless link, to a remote interface of the alert module, and to receive the identification code transmitted by the interface. According to one possibility: the processing unit is connected to a memory, the memory comprising different sets of processing parameters, each set of pa- processing parameters corresponding to a type of support; the processing unit is programmed to select, from the signal identification, a set of processing parameters among the sets of stored processing parameters. The processing unit may be arranged in the alert module. The processing unit may be remote from the alert module. The device may comprise a transmission circuit, the transmission circuit being configured to transmit an alert signal when the processing unit detects an alert situation. The invention will be better understood by reading the description of the exemplary embodiments presented in the remainder of the description, in conjunction with the figures listed below. FIGURES [Fig.1 A] shows a diagram of an alert module. [Fig.1B] shows the circuits arranged inside the alert module. [Fig.2] represents an example of support allowing the alert module described in connection with [Fig.1 A] to be maintained. Figures 3A and 3B show an insertion of the alert module into the holder. [Fig.4A] shows a diagram of a connector of the alert module. [Fig.4B] shows a configuration of a coding circuit, forming part of the medium, defining a coding corresponding to a first type of medium. [Fig.4C] shows the coding circuit, described in connection with [Fig.4B], corresponding to a second type of support, different from the first type of support. [Fig.5] illustrates a second embodiment. [Fig.6] shows an external interface for selecting a medium in a device according to a third embodiment. PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL EMBODIMENTS Figures 1A, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B show a first embodiment. of an alert device according to the invention. The alert device comprises an alert module |, shown in Figures 1A and 1B, as well as a support 10, shown in [Fig.2]. The alert module may for example be as described in FR3044455. It comprises an enclosure 9 containing an actimetry circuit 4 as well as a processing unit 5. The actimetry circuit 4 comprises for example one or more movement or orientation sensors, for example an accelerometer and / or a gyrometer and / or a magnetometer. The actimetry circuit may in particular comprise an inertial unit. The alert module 1 is compact and portable. It is configured to be worn by the user by being held on a dedicated support 10. As described in the prior art, the support may be a belt, a pocket of a vest, or a specific location of a shoe, for example the tongue, or a helmet. In the example shown in [Fig. 2], the support 10 is an armband intended to be worn on the arm. The actimetry circuit 4 is intended to generate an activity signal Sxx representative of an activity or posture of the user. The activity signal may be formed from measurements resulting from the sensors of the actimetry circuit. It may comprise a component formed from the accelerometer, and / or a component formed from the gyroscope, and / or a component formed from the magnetometer. The component resulting from the accelerometer may provide information regarding the posture of the user, and detect a possible loss of verticality, i.e. a lying posture. It may also allow detection of abnormal acceleration fluctuations, in the event of a fall or shock. The component resulting from the gyroscope and / or the magnetometer provides information relating to a movement of the user. It may also allow detection of an abnormal activity, for example detection of a fall or shock. The Sax activity signal is generated by the actimetry circuit at different measurement times. The activity signal can be a combination of components resulting from measurements made by the different sensors. The processing unit 5 is programmed to identify an activity carried out by a user, and in particular an activity considered abnormal, from the activity signal S,… By abnormal activity is meant a movement representative of a distress situation for the user, for example a fall, an accident or marked tremors. At the level of the movement sensors, this can result in a sudden acceleration, followed by a period of inactivity, and / or rapid changes of orientation. A distress situation can also result in a period of immobility having a duration greater than a predefined threshold duration. Thus, the processing unit 5 is configured to classify the activity of the user among at least one class of normal activity and one class of abnormal activity. The classification of the user's activity is carried out according to the activity signal S,, and previously recorded processing parameters. In [Fig.1B], the processing unit is separated from the actimetry circuit. According to a variant, the identification of the abnormal activity can be carried out at the level of the actimetry circuit: a part of the processing unit can therefore be integrated into the actimetry circuit. The alert module 1 comprises a transmission circuit 6, connected to the processing unit 5. The transmission circuit is configured to transmit an alert signal S, for example a radio-frequency alert signal S, when it is activated by the processing unit 5, after an abnormal activity of the user has been detected. The alert signal S is, for example, a telephone call to a preprogrammed number, for example, an assistance service. The transmission circuit 6 may comprise a SIM card (acronym for the English term Subscriber Identity Module), in any format, capable of allowing a telephone call via a wireless telecommunications network, for example a GSM network, or a low-speed, long-distance cellular network, this type of network usually being dedicated to connected objects. Such networks are sometimes designated by the English acronym “LPWAN”, meaning “Low Power Wide Area Network”. According to one possibility, the alert signal is a short-range signal, for example of the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth type, so as to be received by a transmitter worn by the user. The transmitter is, for example, a mobile phone.The mobile phone is configured to allow a telephone call to be made to an assistance service when it receives the alert signal emitted by the alert module 1. According to a variant, the processing unit 5 is remote from the alert module 1. The processing unit 5 may be a server remote from the alert module, and connected to the latter by a wireless link. In this case, the processing unit receives, by wireless link, the activity signal S,.… The processing unit may be integrated into a cloud-type architecture. The transmission circuit 6 may also be remote from the alert module and integrated into a server or a cloud-type architecture. The inventors have found that in order to improve the detection performance of an alert, i.e. to reduce the number of false positives (false alerts) while avoiding false negatives (undetected alerts), it is preferable for the processing unit 5 to take into account the orientation of the alert module and / or the body area of ​​the user facing which the alert module is worn. It is understood that the parameters for detecting an alert situation may be different when the module 1 is worn on the belt, or at the torso, or at the thigh or foot. During normal user activity, the most mobile limb is the arm. Thus, if an actimetry signal worn on the arm is likely to exhibit greater fluctuations than an actimetry signal worn on a limb lower, or belt. When the fluctuation of the actimetry signal is used to identify an abnormal situation of the user, it is therefore preferable that the processing setting, aimed at identifying abnormal activity, is different depending on whether the alert module is worn on the arm or on the belt. When one of the processing parameters is a loss of verticality, it is understood that this parameter is relevant when the user wears the module at the level of an upper limb, such as the torso or the arm, because a loss of verticality corresponds to a lying posture of the user. A prolonged lying posture is representative of an alert situation. Conversely, when the module is worn at the level of the thigh, or the forearm, a loss of verticality may correspond to a sitting posture of the user. However, a prolonged sitting posture is not likely to be representative of an alert situation. The support holding the alert module is considered to define an orientation of the module, and preferably a body area facing which the alert module is worn. A key element of the invention is the fact that the device comprises a coding circuit 13, intended to generate an identification code S;,, the latter being a code, preferably digital, dependent on the support 10 holding the alert module. The identification code S; varies depending on the type of support 10 used. The processing unit 5 takes into account the identification code S;, dependent on the support 10 holding the alert module. Depending on the identification code S;a, the processing unit 5 selects processing parameters which correspond to the type of support used. A first set of processing parameters 0 corresponds to a first type of support, for example a support worn on a belt. A second set of processing parameters 6 corresponds to a second type of support, for example an armband worn on the arm. A third set of processing parameters 61 corresponds to a third type of support, for example a pocket in a safety vest…Generally speaking, the memory comprises N sets of processing parameters, each set of processing parameters 6, of rank n being associated with a support of type n, n being an integer between 1 and N. The memory 5° can be an on-board memory or remote from the processing unit 5, for example in a remote server, of the cloud type. In the example shown in [Fig.1 A], the alert module comprises a connector 2, configured to be connected to a complementary connector 12, forming part of the support 10. In this example, the connector 2 is a base. [Fig. 2] shows a diagram of a support 10, of the armband type, configured to be worn on the arm of a user. By arm, we mean the body area located between the elbow and the shoulder. The support 10 is configured to hold the alert module 1 vertically when the user's arm is vertical. A strap 10, shown in [Fig.2], allows the armband 10 to be held on the user's arm. The support 10 comprises a coding circuit 13, connected to a complementary connector 12 by an electrical ribbon cable 11. The complementary connector 12 is intended to be connected to the connector 2 of the alert module 1. The ribbon cable 11 comprises different electrical wires insulated from each other. The coding circuit 13 is configured to interconnect the wires together. The interconnection made by the coding circuit 13 is specific to the type of support 10 used. [Fig.3A] illustrates a wired connection of the alert module 1 to the support 10, which corresponds to a connection of the connector 2 to the complementary connector 12. [Fig.3B] illustrates a storage of the alert module 1, connected to the support 10, in the support allowing the alert module to be held. The support 10 can then be attached to the user's arm. [Fig.4A] illustrates connector 2. In this example, connector 2 is connected to ten GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) ports of a microcontroller 3. Microcontroller 3 acts as a connecting circuit, intended to be connected to coding circuit 13 so as to generate the identification code Sid. Two (GPIO ports 8 and 9) are not used for the purpose of identifying the support 10. The coding circuit 13 interconnects at least one wire resulting from an input port with another wire resulting from another input port. In this example, GPIO port 10 corresponds to a wire connected to a ground potential. The coding circuit performs: or a connection of the wires resulting from ports 1 to 7 to ground potential (GPIO 10); or no connection of the wires, each unconnected wire being thus left at a floating potential. In [Fig.4B], an example of an interconnection specific to an armband type support is shown. Only GPIO port 1 is connected with GPIO port 10. The other GPIO ports 2 to 7 are left floating. In [Fig.4C], another example of interconnection is shown, specific to another type of support, for example a belt. Only GPIO port 2 is connected with GPIO port 10. The other GPIO ports 1 and 3 to 7 are left floating. It is understood that the coding circuit 13, dependent on the support 10, is designed to generate a code specific to the support used. In the example shown, it is a digital code, because it is defined according to the electrical interconnection made by the coding circuit. The microcontroller 12 is programmed to identify the GPIO ports connected, by the coding circuit 13, to the ground potential (GPIO 10) and the GPIO ports not interconnected by the coding circuit 13. The latter, left at a potential floating, are treated by the microcontroller so as to be "pulled up" by the pull-up technique. The potential of the floating wires corresponds to the microcontroller's supply voltage. They are thus considered, by the microcontroller, as being at 1 in binary value. The connected wires will be at OV therefore analyzed as 0 in binary. The coding circuit 13, when connected to the alert module, is thus configured to generate the identification code, the latter being a digital code. In the case of the examples shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the generated codes are 1000000 and 01000000, respectively. By using seven different GPIO ports, the number of different codes is equal to 127. This leaves the possibility of using 127 different types of media. The identification code S; is transmitted to the processing unit 5. Depending on the identification code S;,, the processing unit 5 selects a set of processing parameters corresponding to the code, and therefore to the type of support used. Thus, the processing of the actimetry signal S,… delivered by the actimetry circuit 4 is adapted to the type of support holding the alert module. This makes it possible to refine the classification of the actimetry signal, by taking into account an orientation and a position of the alert module relative to the human body. This improves the detection specificity (low false positive rate) while improving the detection sensitivity (low false negative rate). For example, in the absence of support consideration, an alert is usually triggered when the activity signal indicates immobility greater than six minutes. The six-minute duration was determined to limit the number of false alerts (false positives). By placing an alert module on an armband-type support, as previously described, experience shows that the immobility duration can be reduced to 2.5 minutes. Taking the support into account makes it possible to reduce the immobility duration leading to the issuance of an alert. The sensitivity of detection of an abnormal situation is thus improved. [Fig. 5] shows a diagram of another embodiment, in which the connection between the support 10 and the alert module 1 is made by a wireless link. The alert module includes an NFC (Near Field Communication) reader, intended to emit a short-range electromagnetic wave, typically a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters. The NFC reader includes an antenna, configured to emit an electromagnetic wave, to perform RFID (Radiofrequency Identification) type identification. The electromagnetic wave emitted by the NFC chip can be at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. This frequency band allows good transmission of the signal through obstacles such as thin plastic or of fabric. According to this embodiment, the support 10 comprises a coding circuit 13 intended to be in wireless communication with the alert module 1. The coding circuit 13 comprises an RFID tag (or beacon), comprising an identifier, or code, representative of the type of support used. Under the effect of activation by the electromagnetic wave emitted by the alert module 10, the coding circuit 13 returns an electromagnetic wave comprising the identification of the support. According to one possibility, described in connection with [Fig. 6], the alert module 1 is connected, by a wireless link, for example wifi or bluetooth, to an external interface 13'. In the example shown, the external interface 13° is a smartphone (ordiphone), comprising an application allowing selection of the type of support in which the alert module will be used. The external interface 13' acts as a coding circuit. The external interface can be operated by the user. In [Fig. 6], four touch icons are shown, corresponding respectively to four different types of support. The user can select a type of support by activating one of the icons. The external interface 13° transmits the identification code S; to the processing unit 5. The invention may be implemented for the monitoring of people, for example vulnerable people or isolated people.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for monitoring the activity of a user, the device comprising: an alert module (1), comprising an actimetry circuit (4), the actimetry circuit being configured to generate a signal activity (S,-) dependent on a posture and / or a user movement; a processing unit (5), connected to the actimetry circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal in order to detect a user activity as corresponding to a alert situation, the treatment being carried out according to processing parameters; a support (10), intended to be carried by the user, the support being configured to maintain the alert module; the device being characterized in that the device comprises a coding circuit (13, 13°), configured to generate an identification code (S;a) in support function; the processing unit is configured to: receive the identification code (S;«); select the processing parameters according to of the identification code; so that the processing parameters depend on the support on which the alert module is maintained.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coding circuit (13) is arranged on the support (10), the coding circuit being configured to be connected to the alert module.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the alert module comprises a connection circuit (3); the coding circuit (13) is configured to be connected to the circuit connection, by a wired connection, so that the connection of the connection circuit with the coding circuit allows the ge- generation of the identification code.

4. Device according to claim 3 in which the connection circuit (3) of the alert module is a micro- controller, configured to transmit the coding signal to the processing unit: or the alert module connection circuit is integrated into the processing unit.

5. Device according to claim 2, in which: the support and alert module are configured to be connected to each other by a short-range wireless link scope : the support includes an emitter of an electromagnetic wave- genetic, including an identifier of the support, the transmitter forming the coding circuit; the alert module is configured to receive the electro-wave magnetic wave emitted by the transmitter, the electromagnetic wave received including the coding signal.

6. Device according to claim 1, in which the alert module is configured to be connected, by wireless link, to an interface (13') remote from the alert module, and to receive the identification code issued by the interface.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, in which : the processing unit is connected to a memory (5'), the memory comprising different sets of processing parameters (6,6, 0, 6,), each set of processing parameters corresponding to a type of support; the processing unit is programmed to select, at from the identification signal, a set of parameters of treatment among the sets of treatment parameters memorized.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, in wherein the processing unit is arranged in the alert module.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the processing unit is remote from the alert module.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a transmitting circuit, the transmitting circuit being configured to emit an alert signal when the processing unit detects a alert situation.